More snow for Central North Island - drivers be prepared

Heavy rain forecast for Friday night and into Saturday morning is expected to turn to snow for the Central North Island. Civil Defence urges anyone planning to travel roads in the CNI to be prepared with warm clothes and blankets.

Heavy rain forecast for Friday night and into Saturday morning is expected to turn to snow for the Central North Island. Civil Defence urges anyone planning to travel roads in the CNI to be prepared with warm clothes and blankets.

The cold weather front will hit the Central North Island areas including Tongariro National Park, Taihape, eastern ranges or Taupo, and the ranges of Hawkes Bay.

Civil Defence are hoping to avoid a repeat of Sunday night, when hundreds of vehicles were trapped in snow on SH5 between Napier and Taupo. However, they are urging drivers and passengers to be prepared and take plenty of warm clothes and blankets, and to take extreme care on Central North Island roads, particularly Desert Road and the Napier-Taupo highway.

Rain is expected to turn to snow during Friday night, with snow expected to lower to 500 or 600 metres early Saturday morning.

10 to 15cm of snow is expected to accumulate above 700 metres between 3am and midday Saturday, easing Saturday afternoon, and should clear most places Saturday evening.